An Aussie’s perspective on the NZ Cup carnival

The tide has turned, at least for now.

The Aussie influence in New Zealand’s biggest harness racing races has been growing over the past few years, but this week was utter dominance.

From the seven major races the Aussies contested, they won six and finished third in the other.

The likes of Swayzee, then Just Believe, Keayang Zahara and Leap To Fame have paved the way for this week in the past couple of years.

But not even the most biased and passionate Aussie fan could have confidently predicted what we saw this week.

From the mind-blowing win of Kingman (Always B Miki) in the IRT NZ Cup, a horse who wasn’t even in the race a couple of weeks ago, to the contrastingly stunning Group 1 double Gus, a Queensland trotter who has always promised something special.

Leap To Fame made his mark with a fighting second to Kingman and this a win of his own in the NZ Free-For-All. It shouldn’t be overlooked he became just the third Aussie-trained pacer to win that race.

The “story” of the Aussie raiders – the story of the week for that matter – came when Tracy The Jet toyed with her rivals in The Ascent, with similar dominance to her compatriot Keayang Zahara in the inaugural running of the slot race last year.

Emotions overflowed, tears were everywhere.

This was special.

For Jess Tubbs to return to Addington seven months after losing her husband, champion driver Greg Sugars, and 12 months after they shared one of their greatest moments with Just Believe in the Dominion, was everything we love about racing.

This time she did it herself after a week of memory triggering moments about Greg.

It was everything we love about racing.

And Tracy The Jet shows all the qualities to suggest she’ll go on to bigger and better things, just like Keayang Zahara has and will seemingly continue to do.

Kyvalley Ray added to the Aussie flavour when he gave former Kiwi horseman Brent Lilley, who is now hugely successful in Victoria, a Group 1 win in the 2YO Trotters’ Sires’ Stake final.

You’ll see lots more of him. He’s staying with Hayden and Amanda Cullen to chase more Group 1 glory in Auckland next April/May.

There were lots of great moments for the Kiwis too.

That epic stoush between Got The Chocolates and Marketplace arm-wrestled the NZ Cup for best race of the week.

It was some sort of win by Got The Chocolates to lift off the canvas.

Cran and Chrissie Dalgety had a heck of a week, which could have really been iced had Republican Party gone one better than his brave second to Leap To Fame in the NZ Free-For-All.

Through the late 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, the Kiwis regularly came to Australia and dominated our major races.

It made the Aussies get better. Breed better horses, train better.

The tide has turned, but it won’t be forever.

As an Aussie, of course I enjoyed the week.

But what I enjoyed most was the genuine coming together of two great harness racing countries – regardless of whether it was in NZ or Australia.

Hopefully, we’ll see a lot more of it.

What a week!

by Adam Hamilton for Harness Racing New Zealand